So I guess Gio is actually going to happen? Cashman sure does love collecting old pitchers with 4th / 5th rotation potential.

Manny $300
Bryce $330
Trout $423
That’s over a billion clams

And hey, real baseball at 5:30 in the ack emm.

Hoping for a report Tokyo Jazz.

[2] Hey rbj! I couldn't get tickets, but of course watched the games on TV, rare night-time MLB for me. (Now you all know what morning baseball is like, it's actually really fun). Ichiro didn't look great his last ABs but was so amazing watching him say goodbye here. Nice to see the Mariners get off to a good start too though it probably won't last.

[3] Dude, how'd you get the games. MLB was blocking me for some reason and I couldn't find them on regular TV. (Well, that's mainly because I don't know how to work our home remote, and also because Minako is the real controller.)

I am glad Ichiro finally found the nuts to retire. It's gotta be hard on him. Baseball really was his whole life, his every waking moment. Next stop Cooperstown!

MLB TV replayed the game last night, and I watched the last few innings. I know MLB has been criticized before for sending two teams half away across the globe to play two or three games, but they got it right this time. For what he has meant to World Baseball, Ichiro clearly deserved this stage. It's no surprise that the crowd wasn't as raucous as the Bronx was on Mariano's or Jeter's last night, but it was still something special. That Ichiro made out in his final two at bats really didn't matter. The moment for me, though, was when he came off the field. Scott Servais played it exactly right. His defense went out to play the bottom of the ninth, but then he pulled the entire team off and had Ichiro wait out in right field for a beat until the public address announcer told the crowd he was exiting the game. All the Mariners waited in front of the dugout, and Ichiro hugged each one. Three standout. Dee Gordon faced Ichiro and bowed, but Ichiro immediately rebuked him. "No! Come on, man!" And then they embraced. Felix Hernandez was clearly emotional as they hugged. But the best and most memorable was Yusei Kikuchi. The Japanese-born pitcher had started the game, making his first major league appearance in front of his home nation fans. That would probably have made the experience special enough for him, but the added layer of Ichiro, clearly amped things up for him. Think about this. He's 27, so he was nine when Ichiro debuted with the Mariners in 2001. I don't think it's a stretch to imagine a young Kikuchi with posters of Ichiro on his bedroom wall, waking up early every morning to watch his hero playing in the major leagues, dreaming of following in his footsteps one day, the same dream likely shared by countless Japanese boys back then. And here he was, pitching in Ichiro's final major league game. When he hugged Ichiro, he became that nine-year-old boy again. He hugged him, and then broke down in tears. It was a moment he'll never forget. Neither will I.

[5] That moment when Kikuchi hung his head and stated weeping made everyone watching a 9-year old for at least a moment.

A helluva career, there and here.

[3] Thanks. Was able to see part of it on rerun. Heck of a career, but Father Time always wins (except, it seems, with Tom Brady.)

[5] Yeah, that was a great scene. Nice re-creation Hank.

I guess there IS crying in baseball!

Meanwhile, Cashman couldn't help but get his Shane Robinson 2.0 for the 2019 roster. Apparently you can have too much pitching. But I see you, Mr. Cashman, I know you are setting up your scapegoat for if the championship evades this team yet another year, and you can sheepishly wave your hand over the IL and say, "well, things didn't exactly go as we had planned..."

Yes they did, Brian. Yes they did.

[4] Boat, sorry I only just saw your post now! I was watching through my mlb.tv app, same as usual. Wasn't it on NHK-BS as well?
[5] Great summary as usual, Hank.

Great recap, Hank!

Poor Tyler Wade. Blindsided is right. And Boone didn’t even feel the need to talk to him afterward. Damn.

Real Baseball: on deck!!! ⚾️